Muscular Dystrophy Association

Mission:
The Muscular Dystrophy Association is a voluntary health agency, a dedicated partnership between scientists and concerned citizens aimed at conquering more than 40 neuromuscular diseases that affect more than a million American adults and children. The diseases in MDA''s program include nine forms of muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (Lou Gehrig''s disease), spinal muscular atrophy, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, metabolic diseases of muscle, myasthenia gravis, inflammatory myopathies, CMT, SMA, and other neuromuscular conditions.

MDA combats these diseases through programs of worldwide research, comprehensive medical and community services, and far-reaching professional and public health education. The Association''s programs are funded almost entirely by individual private contributors.

Programs:
Local businesses sell green shamrock mobiles for $1 donation to MDA and gold shamrock mobiles for a $5 donation to MDA. The program runs February - March every year.

Community Reviews

As a former Executive Director I can verify that his organization spends millions on various fundraising events including its annual Telethon/Show of Strength while struggling to bring in funds to provide much needed services to its patient families. The organization recently closed down numerous ALS, Pediatric and Adult clinics nationwide citing an increase in cost yet the clinics are funded by numerous grants and only cost the organization $20 -$30,000 per year to operate while serving hundreds of thousands of patients nationwide. Additionally the organization claims it spends $800 per child to send them to an MDA run summer camp but costs are rarely over $400 per child. MDA also spends under $120 million per year on research while bringing in close to $800 million annually in funds raised by its offices nationwide. Where is the additional money being spent and why are clinics and healthcare services being cut if their revenue stream far exceeds the expenses of running their healthcare programs and services?

If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...

Restructure the organization starting with the local regional offices to reduce expenditures as these offices provide no direct benefit to the patient families they serve and would continue on up through divisional and national offices cutting positions and removing ineffective leaders who are costing this organization millions in overhead and not providing a direct impact to the future of the organization.

Will you volunteer or donate to this organization beyond what is required of advisors?